‘Cherished son’ and ‘beautiful little brother’ remembered as coronial inquest looks into Baby R’s death

An inquest is investigating whether a Victorian mum was suitable for home birth and, ultimately, whether her son’s death was preventable.

An inquest is looking into the death of a six-day-old baby who died from a severe brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen. Picture: iStock

A mother whose newborn died after a distressing home birth attempt believed she was a “suitable” candidate for a home birth after consulting GPs and midwives – but not an obstetrician.

Baby R, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was only six days old when he died in August 2022 from a severe brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen.

His 35-year-old mother, a former midwife herself, laboured at her home for hours on August 19 in a lounge room birthing pool with the support of two midwives, before she was rushed to Bendigo Base Hospital due to Baby R’s fluctuating heart rate.

He was not breathing when he was born via an emergency C-section.

He was taken to the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne where he died on August 25.

On the first day of a coronial inquest into Baby R’s death, counsel assisting Anna Martin said he was a “cherished son” and “beautiful little brother”.

“He will always be deeply loved and be remembered by family and friends as he continues to have a lasting impact on their hearts and lives,” she said.

The Coroners Court on Monday heard the inquest will probe whether Baby R’s mother was suitable for home birth and, ultimately, whether his death was preventable.

Coroner Dimitra Dubrow is probing Baby R’s death. Picture: Penny Stephens

In a statement provided to the court, the grieving mother said she gave birth to her first child in 2019 via an emergency C-section after complications arose.

She had wanted to give birth at home, but opted for Castlemaine Hospital instead because she felt it was a “little bit safer”.

However, after the birth of her first child, Baby R’s mother said she “backed” herself and decided to pursue a home birth for her second child for a more “natural” experience.

She said she assumed it was “out of the question”, but was “pleasantly surprised” when one of the midwives she knew deemed her suitable.

The court heard she was also planning to create a space in her shed for other women to be able to have home births.

Baby R’s mother did not recall discussing her suitability for a home birth with her two GPs or the other midwives she saw, but she noted that none of them raised any concerns.

“She simply listened and provided the referrals,” she said of one GP.

“This is what led me to believe I was suitable for a home birth.”

In addition to regular appointments with her primary midwife, Baby R’s mother researched home births by assessing guidelines, reviewing literature and reading books.

“Go for it. You’ll rock a home birth!” she recalled one midwife friend telling her.

However, a consultant obstetrician at Bendigo Health deemed it a “high-risk pregnancy” and recommended she see her for a 36-week appointment.

But Baby R’s mother declined.

“I recall questioning the need for this if there had been no changes or concerns raised during my pregnancy,” she said, noting it felt like a “box-ticking exercise”.

“I could not see the relevance of attending.”

Dr Veronica Moule, one of the GPs who referred Baby R’s mother to the primary midwife, told the court she considered her a “potential suitable candidate” for a home birth when she saw her for a 12-week appointment.

She said there was two relevant risk factors, namely her previous C-section and the possibility her baby could weigh over four kilograms.

Dr Moule said a mother planning a vaginal birth after a C-section should be referred in her third trimester to a consultant obstetrician by her midwife, according to medical guidelines.

The court heard a mother’s suitability for a home birth could change at this consultation especially if the baby was considered too heavy.

Dr Moule told the court she believed Baby R’s mother made an “informed decision” to have a home birth.

But after further questioning by Ms Martin, she conceded that without a consultation with an obstetrician, it was possible her decision was not informed.

Ms Martin told Dr Moule that Baby R’s mother did not recall her recommending that she see an obstetrician.

“Is it possible you didn’t have that conversation with her?” Ms Martin asked.

“It’s possible,” Dr Moule replied.

But she told the court she expected Baby R’s mother to see an obstetrician and confirmed that she was never told she declined the appointment.

“I would have called her up … and encouraged her to have it,” she said.

The week-long inquest before Coroner Dimitra Dubrow continues.

Originally published as ‘Cherished son’ and ‘beautiful little brother’ remembered as coronial inquest looks into Baby R’s death